at he had already promis'd, he receiving from the Prince
his Parole, and his Hand, for his good Behaviour, dismiss'd his Irons,
and brought him to his own Cabin; where, after having treated and
repos'd him a While, (for he had neither eat nor slept in four Days
before) he besought him to visit those obstinate People in Chains, who
refused all manner of Sustenance; and intreated him to oblige 'em to
eat, and assure 'em of their Liberty the first Opportunity.

_Oroonoko_, who was too generous not to give Credit to his Words, shew'd
himself to his People, who were transported with Excess of Joy at the
Sight of their darling Prince; falling at his Feet, and kissing and
embracing 'em; believing, as some divine Oracle, all he assur'd 'em. But
he besought 'em to bear their Chains with that Bravery that became those
whom he had seen act so nobly in Arms; and that they could not give him
greater Proofs of their Love and Friendship, since 'twas all the
Security the Captain (his Friend) could have against the Revenge, he
said, they might possibly justly take for the Injuries sustained by him.
And they all, with one Accord, assur'd him, that they could not suffer
enough, when it was for his Repose and Safety.

After this, they no longer refus'd to eat, but took what was brought
'em, and were pleas'd with their Captivity, since by it they hoped to
redeem the Prince, who, all the rest of the Voyage, was treated with all
the Respect due to his Birth, tho' nothing could divert his Melancholy;
and he would often sigh for _Imoinda_, and think this a Punishment due
to his Misfortune, in having left that noble Maid behind him, that fatal
Night, in the _Otan_, when he fled to the Camp.

Possess'd with a thousand Thoughts of past Joys with this fair young
Person, and a thousand Griefs for her eternal Loss, he endur'd a tedious
Voyage, and at last arriv'd at the Mouth of the River of _Surinam_, a
Colony belonging to the King of _England_, and where they were to
deliver some Part of their Slaves. There the Merchants and Gentlemen of
the Country going on Board, to demand those Lots of Slaves they had
already agreed on; and, amongst those, the Overseers of those
Plantations where I then chanc'd to be: The Captain, who had given the
Word, order'd his Men to bring up those noble Slaves in Fetters, whom I
have spoken of; and having put 'em, some in one, and some in other Lots,
with Women and Children, (which they call _Pickaninies_) they sold 'em